Wasserman Schultz Touts Health Care Reform

HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz joined several South Floridians who will now benefit directly from its passage.

At the Broward Community and Family Health Center on Hollywood Boulevard, Wasserman Schultz introduced Carolyn Newman was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer in May 2006. Cancer free for the last six years, Newman cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition because the Affordable Care Act.

“The affordable care act is not a political fight, its a personal one,” Wasserman Schultz said Monday.

Also thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Felicia Hart can keep her 21-year-old daughter on her insurance for five more years. This is helpful because her daughter, Chasity, was diagnosed with lupus and has undergone several surgeries for her condition.

“It wasn’t long after Chastity was diagnosed that we began to understand that our daughter, who up until that point had rarely caught a cold, would now be required to see both primary and specialty care doctors on a regular basis,” said Hart.

Wasserman Schultz also took aim Republicans who say the Affordable Care Act is nothing more than a tax and have vowed to have it repealed.

“They are lying when they say it is tax, plain and simple, they are lying,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Anyone who listens to the opposition to this legislation, to this law, to hear someone say that this is a tax on all Americans – that is a lie.”

Those who oppose the act call it a tax because anyone who does not have health insurance either through their employer or on an individual basis, will pay a penalty on the income taxes each year.

Congressional Republicans have scheduled a vote for July 11th to repeal the Affordable Care Act.